Luggage



3, 1967 E. A. PETERSON ETAL. 3,295,643

LUGGAGE Filed Feb. 18, 1964 2 Sheets-$heet 1 m'lll WW mm (W INVENTORS EVERETT A. PETERSON H-\ ROLD W. PETERSON ATTORNEY 3, 1967 E. A. PETERSON ETAL 3,295,643

LUGGAGE Filed Feb. 18, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I I INVENTORS J EVERETT A. PETERSON f H RQLD w. PETERSON ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,295,643 LUGGAGE Everett A. Peterson, 113 St. Marks Place, Roslyn Heights,

N.Y. 11577, and Harold W. Peterson, 193 E. Broadway, Roslyn, N.Y. 11577 Filed Feb. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 345,739 Claims. (Cl. 190-41) This invention relates to improved receptacles and to the method of making the same and involves the construction of receptacles of various kinds such as boxes, luggage, hand bags and the like. The invention comprises a novel concept in the formation of a basic structure which is equally applicable to the making of these and other kinds of receptacles, and for illustrative purposes will be described in connection with a hat box and ladies pocket books.

Many receptacles include as basic structure a bottom, side and end walls and may include a top. If the receptacle is circular, one continuous wall may be provided for the side. According to the present invention it is contemplated that several of these basic elements may be formed simultaneously as a unit and quickly, easily and economically assembled into a finished product. While described herein in connection with a circular hat box and ladies pocket books, the principles of construction outlined and the method of making these items may be applied to other types of receptacles.

A primary object of the invention therefore, is the production of receptacles of various types indicated, which are pleasing in appearance, strong in construction, durable in handling and very economical to manufacture.

A further object of the invention is to provide basic units or sub-assemblies for a receptacle of the kind indicated which may be readily made and assembled into a completely finished product by unskilled or semi-skilled labor.

Other objects will become apparent from a perusal of the accompanying drawings and specification in which illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown and described.

For a more complete description of the invention reference is made to the accompanying specification and drawings wherein illustrative and exemplary embodiments of the invention are described and shown.

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of a ladies hat box made according to this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical, central sectional view of the box of FIGURE 1, taken along the line 22, but with the handle omitted.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the basic structure of the box in blank form.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged central sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a similar view of a modified form of construction. FIGURE 5a represents a step in the assembly of the structure of FIGURE 5 into a hand bag.

FIGURE 6 is a similar view of still a further modified form.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view showing bottom, side and back, the back moving to assembly position.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged sectional detail of a portion of the side wall of the hat box before assembly to the top.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a hand bag made from the sub-assembly of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of a hand bag made from the sub-assembly of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 11 is a detail in plan view of a corner of the assemblies of FIGURES 5 and 6.

V In practicing this invention the materials used are principally the heat scalable resinous thermo-plastics such as polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, vinylidene chloride copolymer, saran and others, plus card-board. In the manufacture of a hat box of the type shown in FIGURE 1, the cardboard stays or stiffening members 10, 11, 12, FIG- URE 4, are blanked out to the shape as shown in FIGURE 3, and are arranged in spaced relation as shown in FIG- URE 4. The covering sheets 13, 14 are similarly blanked out, one of the sheets, in this case the lower or outer sheet 14 being made slightly greater in overall area so as to provide a marginal portion 14b which extending beyond the external, peripheral edges of said stay members can be turned over the edge ltla of the stay 10 and folded over the upper marginal portion of the stay 10. The upper or inner sheet 13 is placed over the cardboard stays as shown in FIGURE 4 with its marginal portions 13a in overlapping relation with the folded over marginal portion 14b. The parts supported in these relative positions are transferred to a radio frequency, heat sealing press where the upper and lower thermoplastic sheets 13l4 are welded together in a homogeneous mass at the several places indicated by the arrows 15 in FIGURE 4. The sealed portions 16, 17 (FIGURES 3, 4 and 7) form the hinges around which the top, bottom and back are folded. This completes a basic sub-assembly in which the assembly A forms the top of the hat box, B forms the back wall and C forms the bottom.

The side wall D of the box is a lineal extension of the back B and is separately formed in a similar manner best shown in cross section in FIGURES 2 and 8, and in plan view in FIGURE 3, where one edge 25 is connected to the back B. In FIGURE 2 the wall is shown as comprising a cardboard stay 18 sandwiched between 2 sheets 19, Zll of thermoplastic material, but in this case at the bottom edge the sheets are lapped together beyond the edges of the boards and are heat-sealed together to form a side tab 21.

Referring to FIGURES 2, 3 and 8, at the edge opposite the edge 21 a separable fastener 23, known as a zipper, is inserted between the ends of the sheets 19 and 20 so that it is permanently united thereto when the sheets are sealed together. A side tab 24 is carried by the zipper, this side tab being joined to a marginal portion of the underside of the top A when the parts are joined together. The side tab 24 of the zipper is heat sealed around the inner marginal portion of the top A, the side tab 21 being heat sealed to the bottom C, as shown in FIGURE 2, this sealing taking place all around the upper and lower edges of the box. The side edges of the back B, and the end tabs 22, 25 of the side D are sealed together at each inner side edge of the back B as will be understood from the drawings. This forms the completed box and a handle 26 may be applied as desired. Metal gliders 27 may be applied to the back if desired.

In the modification shown in FIGURE 5, the subassembly forming the basic structure of a hand bag is indicated, the completed bag being shown in FIGURE 9. In FIGURE 5, the sub-assembly is made in exactly the same manner as with respect to FIGURE 4, except that the central stay is omitted, leaving the central portion E comprising two layers of thermoplastic sheets 27, 28, with air trapped between them. To form a hand bag from this sub-assembly, the central portion E is folded along its center line E and the sides F and G are folded upwardly so that a section through the folded unit appears as in FIGURE 5a, the assembly resembling accordion pleats. Gussets 27' of thermoplastic material, FIGURE 9, are now prepared, one for each end of the subassembly, these gussets being attached by heat sealing in tegral side and bottom tabs or flaps thereof 27a, 27b, respectively, to the inside marginal portion 28 at the edge of each outer wall F and G, and to the pleated walls of the central portion E adjacent their ends. A cover flap 29 with appropriate fastening means 35) may be provided, and the cover flap, also of a thermoplastic material, may be heat sealed in a separate operation to the assembly along its outer wall, as indicated at 31.

In still another modification, the sub-assembly of FIG- URE 6 is used to produce the pocket book or ladies purse shown in FIGURE 10. In FIGURE 6, the same basic parts and structure are employed as with respect to FIGURES 4 and 5, two stays 32, 33 being used, spaced as shown, and the inner and outer thermoplastic sheets 34, 35, respectively, are sealed together at 34a and 36, the seal along the latter line forming the hinge joint about which the portions H and I are folded to the form shown in FIGURE 10. In this figure gussets 37 are attached to the open ends of the folded sub-assembly and heatsealed to the inner marginal portions by means of integral flaps 38. An outer cover flap 3? with appropriate fastening means 40 is suitably secured to the wall of the portion H to form a completed bag.

In FIGURES 9 and all corners 41 are rounded, the stays being precut with rounded corners before assembly, and the outer covering sheet, when turned over the edge of the corner and lapped over the marginal inner surface of the board, becomes pleated at 42 as shown in FIG- URE 11. The inner cover sheet, when applied, covers over a portion of these pleats.

In all forms of the invention a sheet of some soft and yieldable material 45 such as foam rubber or its equivalent, may be inserted between the outer covering sheet and the adjacent stay prior to sealing the parts together, to give a rounded effect to the finished product, and to give it a soft and luxurious feel to the hand. Even when the yieldable material is not inserted as described, suflicient air is trapped between the stays and the covering sheets to give the surfaces of the covering sheets a soft, pleasant feel under the pressure of the hand or fingers, simulating the fell of leather. In every case, the covering sheets are not attached to the stays in any fashion and the sheet surfaces are free to flow somewhat with respect to said stays under the lateral, or radical longitudinal pressure of the fingers. In all cases, the covering sheets are sealed only to each other at their contacting portions.

In all forms of the invention, during the manufacturing process air is trapped between the covering sheets and the stay members so that the covering materials have a soft, yielding and flexible feel to hand under the pressure of the fingers.

The sub-assemblies shown in FIGURES 3, 4, 5 and 6 may be made by a subcontractor, for supply to various manufacturers to be fabricated into different products as required.

Changes in the design, arrangement of parts, and construction may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A blank for luggage comprising end and intermediate spaced stay members and covering sheets for said members extending over the entire surfaces thereof, one of said covering sheets extending over a first surface I thereof and having an area of greater length and width than said spaced stay members to provide a marginal portion extending beyond the external peripheral free edges of said stay members, said marginal portion being turned over the adjacent free edges of said stay members and folded over a marginal portion of the inner face thereof, the other of said covering sheets extending over a second surface of said stay members and being connected to said folded over marginal portion by a lap joint, said sheets also contacting each other in the space between said stay members, said sheets being permanently united to each other at their points of contact, said stay members being free of attachment to said sheets, said stay members and their covering sheets forming Wall 4 members for luggage, the contacting portions of said sheets between said stay members forming a hinge joint for said wall members, whereby said wall members may be folded over to form top and bottom members for luggage, said intermediate stay member and covering sheets forming a connecting back wall member therefor, and a side wall member secured to one end edge of said back member and having side edges for connection with said top and bottom members, respectively, and a free end edge for connection with the other end edge of said back member, said side member having a separable fastener thereon intermediate its said side edges and extending substantially the full length thereof.

2. Luggage comprising intermediate and end stay members, said stay members being spaced from one another in a lineal direction, covering sheets for said stay members extending over the entire surfaces thereof, one of said sheets extending over a first surface and having an area of greater length and width than said combined spaced stay members to provide a marginal portion extending beyond the external peripheral edges of said stay members, said marginal portion being turned over the adjacent edges of said stay members and folded over a marginal portion of the second surface thereof, the other of said covering sheets extending over said second surface thereof and being connected to the said marginal portion of said first sheet, said sheets also contacting each other in the space between said stay members, said sheets being permanently united to each other at their points of contact, said sheets being free of attachment to said stay members, said end stay members and covering sheets forming top and bottom wall members, the contacting portions of said sheets between said stay members forming a hinge joint for said Wall members, said intermediate stay members and covering sheets forming a back for said luggage, said back having a side wall member attached thereto at one end, said side wall member having side and end tabs, said side tabs being secured to the marginal surface of said top and bottom, respectively, adjacent the edges thereof, said side wall having a separable fastener thereon intermediate said side tabs and extending substantially the full length of said side Wall, each of said end tabs being secured, respectively, to a free end of said back member.

3. A device according to claim 2 in which said covering sheets are of thermoplastic material and in which said tabs of said side wall member are of thermoplastic material, said side tabs being welded to the inner marginal surfaces of said top and bottom, respectively, adjacent the edges thereof, said side wall member having a separable fastener thereon intermediate said side tabs and extending substantially the full length of said side Wall, each of said end tabs being welded, respectively, to a free end of said back member.

4. A device according to claim 1, in which the covering sheets are of thermoplastic materials, in which said side wall member is continuous from one end of said back member to the other and has side and end tabs of thermoplastic material, said side tabs being welded to said marginal surfaces of said top and bottom members, adjacent the free edges thereof, said end tabs each being welded, respectively, to a free end of said intermediate stay member, said top and bottom members having connecting means for locking and unlocking said luggage.

5. Luggage comprising intermediate and end stay members, said stay members being spaced from one another in a lineal direction, covering sheets for said stay members extending over the entire surfaces thereof, said end stay members having substantially greater length and width than said intermediate stay member, covering sheets for said stay members extending over the entire surfaces thereof, said sheets being of thermoplastic material, a first of said sheets extending over one surface and having an area of greater length and width than said combined spaced stay members. to, provide a: marginal: por

tion extending beyond the external peripheral free edges of said stay members, said marginal portions being turned over the adjacent free edges of said stay members and folded over a marginal portion of a surface thereof, the second of said covering sheets extending over the other surface thereof and being connected by a lap joint With said folded over marginal portion, said sheets also contacting each other in the space between said stay members, said sheets being welded to each other at their points of contact, said sheets being movable with respect to said stay members under the pressure of the fingers, said end stay members and covering sheets forming top and bottom wall members for a receptacle the contacting portions of said sheets between said stays forming a hinge joint for said wall members, said intermediate stay member forming a back for said luggage, and a continuous side wall member, said side wall member having side and end tabs of thermoplastic material, said side tabs being welded to said marginal surfaces of said top and bottom members, adjacent the edges thereof, said end tabs each being welded, respectively, to a free end of said intermediate stay member, said side wall member having means thereon for locking and unlocking said top wall and said side wall.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,479,591 1/ 1924 LEnfant 15032 1,482,727 2/ 1924 Borchers 229-31 X 1,609,974 12/ 1926 Sonn 206-8 2,062,237 11/1936 Schwartz -41 X 2,194,451 3 1940 Soubier.

2,331,802 10/1943 Rosenkrantz ISO-30 2,472,859 6/ 1949 Rubin.

2,657,726 11/ 1953 Silverrnan 30 2,663,343 12/1953 Hyman 1507 X 2,754,867 7/ 1956 Langer.

3,083,821 4/1963 Woodson.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner.

20 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Examiner.

M. L. MINSK, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A BLANK FOR LUGGAGE COMPRISING END AND INTERMEDIATE SPACED STAY MEMBERS AND COVERING SHEETS FOR SAID MEMBERS EXTENDING OVER THE ENTIRE SURFACES THEREOF, ONE OF SAID COVERING SHEETS EXTENDING OVER A FIRST SURFACE THEREOF AND HAVING AN AREA OF GREATER LENGTH AND WIDTH THAN SAID SPACED STAY MEMBERS TO PROVIDE A MARGINAL PORTION EXTENDING BEYOND THE EXTERNAL PERIPHERAL FREE EDGES OF SAID STAY MEMBERS, SAID MARGINAL PORTION BEING TURNED OVER THE ADJACENT FREE EDGES OF SAID STAY MEMBERS AND FOLDED OVER A MARGINAL PORTION OF THE INNER FACE THEREOF, THE OTHER OF SAID COVERING SHEETS EXTENDING OVER A SECOND SURFACE OF SAID STAY MEMBERS AND BEING CONNECTED TO SAID FOLDED OVER MARGINAL PORTION BY A LAP JOINT, SAID SHEETS ALSO CONTACTING EACH OTHER IN THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID STAY MEMBERS, SAID SHEETS BEING PERMANENTLY UNITED TO EACH OTHER AT THEIR POINTS OF CONTACT, SAID STAY MEMBERS BEING FREE OF ATTACHMENT TO SAID SHEETS, SAID STAY MEMBERS AND THEIR COVERING SHEETS FORMING WALL MEMBERS FOR LUGGAGE, THE CONTACTING PORTIONS OF SAID SHEETS BETWEEN SAID STAY MEMBERS FORMING A HINGE JOINT FOR SAID WALL MEMBERS, WHEREBY SAID WALL MEMBERS MAY BE FOLDED OVER TO FORM TOP AND BOTTOM MEMBERS FOR LUGGAGE, SAID INTERMEDIATE STAY MEMBER AND COVERING SHEETS FORMING A CONNECTING BACK WALL MEMBER THEREFOR, AND A SIDE WALL MEMBER SECURED TO ONE END EDGE OF SAID BACK MEMBER AND HAVING SIDE EDGES FOR CONNECTION WITH SAID TOP AND BOTTOM MEMBERS, RESPECTIVELY, AND A FREE END EDGE FOR CONNECTION WITH THE OTHER END EDGE OF SAID BACK MEMBER, SAID SIDE MEMBER HAVING A SEPARABLE FASTENER THEREON INTERMEDIATE ITS SAID SIDE EDGES AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THE FULL LENGTH THEREOF. 